No NATO Peacekeepers in Ukraine, Says Russia
Russia Rejects NATO Peacekeepers in Ukraine, Proposes Unarmed Observers
Russia has dismissed the idea of NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine, advocating instead for unarmed observers or a civilian monitoring group to oversee a potential peace deal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia on Sunday.
He called NATO’s involvement in peacekeeping “incompatible,” citing its history of military aggression, and warned that deploying NATO forces would make them direct conflict participants.
Grushko stressed that peacekeeping talks are premature without a formal agreement. He suggested a civilian mission could monitor compliance with peace terms, ensuring Ukraine’s neutral status and NATO’s refusal to admit it as a member—key Russian demands for lasting regional security. Moscow remains firmly opposed to NATO observers, he reiterated.
The statement comes amid US President Donald Trump’s push for a 30-day ceasefire, accepted by Ukraine last week but conditional for Russia.
Trump, set to discuss ending the three-year war with President Vladimir Putin this week, received a “positive” response from Putin via US Envoy Steve Witkoff, CNN reported Sunday. Putin insists any deal must meet Russia’s core terms.
Britain, France, and Australia have expressed willingness to contribute peacekeepers to monitor a ceasefire, but Russia’s stance complicates Western proposals. Grushko’s alternative of unarmed monitors signals Moscow’s openness to negotiation, provided its strategic red lines—excluding NATO’s military footprint and securing Ukraine’s neutrality—are upheld. As diplomatic efforts intensify, the shape of any peacekeeping presence remains a contentious hurdle in resolving the conflict.
